Court rejects Berlusconi's objections

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/189717.html

An Italian court has rejected submissions by the defense team of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, charged with abuse of power and sex-related crimes.

The court rejected the claims by the lawyers of the 74-year-old Italian premier, who challenged the Milan court's right to hear the case, AFP reported.

Berlusconi's defense team presented 16 preliminary complaints, and argued that the abuse of power charge against Berlusconi, which carries a sentence of up to 12 years in prison, should be considered by a special court for ministers, and sex-related charges should be heard by a court outside Milan.

Judge Giulia Turri dismissed the defense motions one by one in the hearing session attended by neither Berlusconi nor the woman at the center of the accusations.

The Italian premier is accused of paying for sex with a Moroccan-born teenager, nicknamed Ruby, at a series of wild dinner parties held at his private villa in the north of Italy.

He is also accused of abusing his power to let the girl get out of police custody in 2010.

"The court considers itself to be competent," the ruling said.

The court set the date for the next hearing for sex crime case on September 19, and the next hearing for the power charge case has been set for October 3.

The Italian prime minister has not made any court appearances since May 16.

Berlusconi told a local newspaper on July 8 that he would not run again when his term finishes in 2013 and named the country's justice minister as his successor.

Italian cabinet approves austerity plan

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/186991.html

The Italian cabinet has adopted an austerity plan aimed at protecting the country from Greek debt crisis and avoiding the budget deficit in 2014.

The measure approved on Thursday, which includes a tax hike on financial transactions, a cut in ministers' pay and an extension of the current freeze on public sector salaries and hiring, aims to save EUR 47 billion and reassure investors, the Press TV correspondent in Rome reports.

The budget cuts of EUR 47 billion will be implemented over 4 years, EUR 1.5 billion this year, EUR 5.5 billion next year, EUR 20 billion in 2013, and another EUR 20.5 billion in 2014, the government spokesman announced in a press conference on Thursday.

The government is also expected to reduce income tax and crack down on tax exemptions and evasion.

Parliament approval is needed before the austerity plan takes effect.

Moody's and Standard & Poor's rating agencies have warned the country's credit rating could be downgraded because of its inability to pass reforms to bring down its debt mountain and the country's low growth rate, unless Rome takes proper measures to cut its public deficit.

By 2013, there will probably be a new government which will face the EUR 40 billion budget cuts in 2013 and 2014, which will certainly harm a lot of families in Italy.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government has said that it is going to reduce the budget of government ministries and local authorities plus a reduction in tax breaks for companies and families, but there will be no cuts on education, research and culture.

The budget is the latest test for Berlusconi, who suffered heavy defeats in local elections and four referendums over the last month. His approval ratings have been sinking over a series of corruption and sex scandals, and a stagnant economy.

'Berlusconi government may collapse'

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (L) and Northern League leader Umberto Bossi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/186800.html

Italy's Northern League political party leader says Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government risked collapsing over an austerity budget worth nearly EUR 40 billion (USD 57.6 billion).

Umberto Bossi, whose political party is Berlusconi's main coalition ally, says the Northern League may not support the 2012 budget.

Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti has reportedly come under pressure by the ruling coalition to resign over his budget measures.

Berlusconi met with coalition leaders on Tuesday to gain political agreement on the country's annual budget, which includes cuts to ministry budgets, funding for town councils and healthcare, Reuters reported.

Italy, which has found itself in a similar situation as Greece, must come up with EUR 40 billion in budget cuts by 2014 in order to comply with eurozone regulations.

The country's debt burden is currently at 120 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is twice the eurozone limit but still better than other members like Greece.

Analysts believe Berlusconi's unpopularity will trigger fierce protests in the face of the austerity measures and can undermine the premier's government entirely.

MPs give Berlusconi lift after losses

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/185723.html

The government of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has won a confidence vote on a bill widely seen as a test of the stability of his coalition।

The bill, adopted by 317 votes to 293 in the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, includes tax breaks and investment incentives।

"These are the numbers of an absolute majority," said Justice Minister Angelino Alfano, who has just been named the new secretary of Berlusconi's People of Freedom Party.

"We are satisfied with the umpteenth indication of our consistency that shows our strength," he added.

Berlusconi told lawmakers after winning the confidence vote that his government should remain in power until its five-year term ends in 2013 to "avoid ending up like other European countries which are bleeding."

The victory in the confidence vote will give Berlusconi's People of Freedom Party a slight boost after the embattled premier suffered defeats in crucial local elections and a round of referendums in less than a month.

Among other things, the referendums would have approved a legal immunity law designed to keep Berlusconi out of court.

Over the years, the 74-year-old has faced a plethora of allegations of criminal activity, including mafia involvement, corruption, and bribery of police officers, lawyers, and judges

Berlusconi entangled in political rift

Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/185060.html

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is facing a political rift in his coalition government days after he suffered a referendum humiliation.

The Italian premier's outspoken ally, the Northern League, has withdrawn earlier support for Berlusconi by pressing him to cut tax and relocate two ministries from Rome to Milan, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The tax cut proposal is aimed at restoring popularity for Berlusconi's government, which according to a recent survey conducted by Ipr Marketing firm and published by Italy's Left-leaning daily, La Repubblica, has hit a low of 29 percent.

Experts believe the risk of a split between the Northern League and the ruling People of Freedom party could lead to early elections in the country.

“At the moment Berlusconi needs the League, because without the League we don't have a majority; we go to elections, and going to elections now for Berlusconi would be a disaster,” Giovanni Orsina, a professor of political sciences at LUISS University in Rome said.

Berlusconi needs the support of the Northern League more than the League is in need of the premier's backing, Orsina added.

The Northern League will hold a meeting in Pontida this weekend to discuss the funding details for the government's upcoming fiscal reform which is aimed at winning back public support.

Berlusconi faced another embarrassment earlier this week, following the local election defeat, after 57 percent of voters turned out in a referendum to reject four government's proposals.

The voters were opposed to the government's plans to return to nuclear power as well as a law that would give legal immunity to the premier who is already a defendant in three trials involving allegations of bribery, fraud and paying for sex with a 17-year-old girl.

Berlusconi, who narrowly survived a confidence vote in December, will face another parliament vote on June 21.

Berlusconi walks out of fraud court

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/174272.html

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has walked out of a court room during his tax fraud trial, saying the hearing was “a waste of time.”

In an open court on Monday, about two and a half hours after the hearing started, Berlusconi, who was sitting at the front row with his lawyer, stepped out of the court room, accusing prosecutors of having no case against him.

"I've spent a surreal morning, a paradoxical waste of time and a waste of resources," Berlusconi told reporters inside before leaving.

"There is no proof, no documents, no testimony, no money trail that supports the prosecutors' thesis."

Monday's trial centered on charges that Berlusconi's Mediaset broadcasting empire has bought TV and film rights at inflated prices through offshore front companies, leaving the difference to be skimmed off to avoid tax and create secret slush funds.

Both Mediaset and Berlusconi deny the charges and the prime minister's lawyers, who attended a related hearing on March 28, said that he would be in the Milan court where judges are expected to question some defense witnesses.

"These charges are laughable, unfounded and demented," Berlusconi said, adding that the charges were "the invention of the public prosecutor."

The Mediaset trial is one of a related series of three trials, all linked to the sale of television and film rights dating back to the 1990s.

The case is not related to Berlusconi's sex scandal in which the prime minister is accused of paying for sex with a dancer when she was under the age of 18.

Berlusconi, who has faced at least a dozen trials over the years, denies all charges against him and says he has been victimized by leftist magistrates who are using the legal system to bring him down.

Berlusconi ordered to stand trial

Judge says Italian PM will face fast-track trial over claims he paid for underage sex and abused power to cover it up



Source: Al Jazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/02/201121510218280935.html

Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, has been ordered to stand trial on charges he paid for sex with a 17-year-old girl and then used his political position to try and cover it up.

Cristina Di Censo, a Milan judge, handed down the indictment on Tuesday. The trial is set to begin on April 6.

The 74-year-old billionaire has denied the charges against him, saying they are politically motivated. However, his lawyers on Tuesday said they "didn't expect anything else," in response to the news.

Prosecutors bringing the case against Berlusconi allege he paid for sex with a "significant number" of young women including a Moroccan dancer nicknamed Ruby the Heart Stealer, who was 17 at the time.

The premier is also accused of using his influence to free her from custody after being arrested on suspicion of an unrelated theft.

A group of Milan judges, who conducted an investigation into the claims before seeking trial, say the premier acted in fear that her detention would have revealed her relationship to him.

But Berlusconi and Ruby, whose real name is Karima El Mahroug, have both denied having sex, and the premier's supporters say he helped release her from jail because he believed she was a relative of Hosni Mubarak, the recently ousted Egyptian president.

Biggest blow

Tuesday's development is the biggest blow yet to the embattled prime minister, who is resisting calls to step down amid a growing number of scandals and political problems.

Earlier this week, thousands of women rallied around the country against the prime minister, saying the alleged scandals were humiliating.

The prime minister has also come under pressure from the Vatican and Confindustria, Italy's main business lobby.

Tim Friend, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Rome, said many people in Italy "are starting to ask if this is the beginning of the end for their prime minister".

"This [impending court case] is the worst possible news for Berlusconi, Italy's longest-serving post-war leader. He has a long history of accusations against him including sex scandals and corruption," he said.

Berlusconi has also been made politically vulnerable following a split with a former ally, and last month a court partially removed his right to political immunity.

Tuesday's decision suggests that Di Censo believes that there is sufficient evidence to subject Berlusconi to an immediate trial, which skips the preliminary hearing stage.

But his lawyers have previously accused the Milan court of "violating the constitution", saying Berlusconi could only be tried in a special court for members of parliament.

Our correspondent said in theory the Italian leader could face up to 15 years in jail if found guilty.

"This looks as though the judge has decided on a fast-track trial.

"Berlusconi will be marshalling his defences, I think he will say some of this evidence against him was acquired through phone taps, through interceptions and he might challenge it in that way," he said.

Berlusconi refuses to step down

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi

Source: press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/165188.html

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has announced he will not step down and slammed the demonstrations against him over his sex scandals.

On Sunday, thousands of Italian women took to the streets across the country to call on Berlusconi to resign over his sex scandals, specifically the underage prostitution scandal.

The 74-year-old told his Canale 5 network on Monday that he has never disrespected women, Reuters reported.

“All women who have had the opportunity to get to know me, know how much I respect them. I have always behaved and I always behave with great care and great respect, both in my companies and in my government,” he said.

The prime minister has denied the allegations against him, but his manner of defending himself has offended many.

In an interview last year, Berlusconi stated, "I have never paid a woman. I have never seen the satisfaction that there could be in it without the pleasure of conquest."

The Sunday protest organizers -- actresses Francesca and Cristina Comencini -- say that Berlusconi has damaged women's dignity.

"Berlusconi has long shown a violent contempt for women with his misogynist remarks," Francesca Comencini said.

The demonstration is one of many that have taken place over the weekend and in previous months, as Italians continue their call for Berlusconi to resign.

Berlusconi said the government would not resign over the affair, potentially opening the way for new elections.

“The Milan prosecutors' office and the media in contrast has trampled on the dignity of my guests, exposing them to public scorn without any reason or regard for them and trampling on the truth," Berlusconi said.

Reports revealed that he had been using a bank account in Milan to make payments to showgirls and models that attended parties at his mansion on the outskirts of the city.

The Italian prime minister has resisted calls to quit over the latest scandal, in which he is accused of having sexual relations with an underage Moroccan girl, Karima El Mahroug, also known in the media as "Ruby the Heart-Stealer,”

Anti-Berlusconi protest held in Italy

Demonstrators stand in front of police during a protest against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Arcore, near Milan

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164039.html

Hundreds of protesters have held a rally against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, calling for the scandal-hit premier to step down.

The protesters, some wearing masks of Berlusconi, chanted "Resign, resign!" at the gates of his private villa in the Milan suburb of Arcore, where he was spending the weekend, the Associated Press reported on Sunday.

A small group of opponents clashed with police after they broke away from the main demonstration, and attempted to wade into a security cordon near Berlusconi's villa.

The demonstrators hurled bottles and other objects at a police line blocking them.

Some reports say that two protesters were arrested and several protesters and policemen were injured.

On Saturday, another rally was staged in a Milan sports stadium by thousands, including prominent Italian writers and intellectuals, urging their country's leader to resign.

Berlusconi has long been buffeted by allegations of corruption and sexual scandals related to his private life, including reports of wild parties at his villa and alleged encounters with prostitutes.

The 74-year-old premier is under investigation for his alleged paying for sex with a 17-year-old Moroccan dancer Karima El Mahrough last year at his Milan villa, which has become the focal point of investigation by Italian prosecutors.

The Italian politician is expected to suffer more setbacks this week as Milan prosecutors prepare to submit a request to a judge for a fast-track trial of the premier.

The judge will then have five days to decide, although the deadline could be extended by a few days.